WCCO-TV retiring newscaster Don Shelby in his home office, his computer screensaver is a photo of Kent Hrbek batting and Terry Steinbach catching and Shelby umpiring at a Twins legends game from lTargetr Field last summer--at Shelby's Minnetonka home Wednesday morning November10, 2020. (Pioneer Press: John Doman)

For 33 years at WCCO Television, Don Shelby was the journalist – always trying to be objective and looking for all sides of the story. As a reporter, he made sure he stayed neutral on controversial issues and avoided special interests.

Now retired, the 64-year-old is not doing that anymore when it comes to climate change. After doing a “fair amount” of research and reading dozens of books, he believes the science is clear: The global climate is warming and the consequences, if nothing is done, will affect us all.

“I’ve talked to people who would say, ‘You’ll find out you will be busier when you retire. You’ll wonder how you ever got anything accomplished when you had a job.’ And I find that to be true,” he says.

Shelby sits on 13 boards, gives dozens of speeches and serves as chair of a funding campaign to help kids with mental health issues. He says he’s busier now than he’s ever been.

No longer wearing his three-piece work suit and styled haircut, Shelby sits on the steps of his new eco-friendly house in Excelsior, wearing an old cap, a pair of loafers with no socks and a faded jacket. He is excited about his new house and environmental activism. He is no longer simply the messenger delivering the news about what’s going on in the state and the country; rather, he’s become a warrior now, trying to warn of the dangers of climate change, increasing carbon dioxide emissions and global warming. He’s trying to inform his old colleagues and inspire public debate.

Shelby now drives a hybrid car that gets 700 miles to a tank of gas. He sold his bass boat with a 200-horse power outboard and owns nine canoes. He gardens and still has a couple of cans of vegetables from last year’s harvest.

It’s no surprise where Shelby gets his passion. He says he comes from a family of “Lincoln Republicans.” His dad was president of the conservation club and his mom was the secretary.

“It stems from a love of nature, a love of creation,” Shelby said, “and it started as a child.”

Shelby says that he is not a scientist, that he doesn’t go out and conduct experiments. He is not an expert on global warming but, as a journalist, he’s an expert on experts. He is certain that 97 percent of scientists are certain that global warming is happening.

“Who am I to question that?” he said, “And on what grounds?”

One of Shelby’s examples of an environmentally friendly business is the Coca Cola Company. The company has hybrid trucks, recycles water and avoids using petroleum products. Shelby says if Coke can do that, so can other businesses.

Shelby says he respects Al Gore and his documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth,” but he believes that Gore’s name might have produced a more partisan response to global warming.

“I think he was the wrong face for the documentary,” Shelby said .

Even before his retirement, Shelby reported on environmental issues and started Project Energy, doing stories about energy use and opportunities for conservation.

Professor John Abraham, an associate professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering, helped organize the Climate Rapid Response Communications Team. It’s a group of scientists who want to confront climate-change skeptics civilly and publicly.

Shelby has been helpful in that cause, says Abraham. “He’s a man of his word, and he’s passionate about what he’s doing.”

Arctic explorer Will Steger echoes that assessment. “He’s a great man, and very knowledgeable. Morals and justice are what drive him.”

While Shelby is grateful for the praise, he said he feels even better about having the time and freedom to speak out on an issue he cares deeply about.

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